Alabama free safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix has been suspended indefinitely for violation of team rules, according to coach Nick Saban, who did not set a timetable on the preseason All-SEC defender's absence.

"When guys get suspended, I never ever say what it's for, so I'm not going there, so don't ask me," Saban said Wednesday as his team prepares for Saturday's game against Georgia State. "It's the way I've always handled this -- every guy. They do right, they wouldn't be getting suspended. And I don't know for how long this will be, so don't ask me that either."

A talented underclassmen with excellent range and ball skills, Clinton-Dix currently is ranked No. 18 on Scouts Inc.'s Top 32 for 2014. He's second on the team with 24 tackles and two pass breakups. His primary backup entering the year, senior Nick Perry, already has been lost for the season with a shoulder injury.

Instead, the job of replacing Clinton-Dix will fall to either Landon Collins or Geno Smith. Collins, a former five-star recruit at safety, has primarily played at inside cornerback this season but has since been working at free safety. Smith, who came on strong at inside corner late last season before transitioning to safety during fall camp, has not seen the field much this year after being arrested for a DUI prior to the start of the season.

"Those are the two guys that will primarily play that position in this game," Saban said.

The Tide will not face a single ranked team in October. Alabama plays Georgia State, Kentucky, Arkansas and Tennessee followed by a bye week before No. 10 LSU travels to Tuscaloosa on Nov. 9.

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Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeJoeBrown
The most important thing, however, is how strong their swagger factors are.
Newton
South of the Mason Dixon +10 swagger
Barely literate +5 swagger
Thief +15 swagger
Kicked off of a team of thugs +20 swagger
Big, average speed -3 swagger
Hasn't done jacksquat on the field +15 swagger
Total Swagger: 62ATL College Park Zone 3* +20 swagger Bonus pts

For my money Clinton-Dix is the top draft-eligible safety prospect in the country.

This probably won't be a huge issue but it certainly requires watching and some investigation.

The way teammate Sunseri is playing so far I believe he could play himself into the top 2 Rounds. Clinton-Dix out helps him make more of a name.

__________________

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeJoeBrown
The most important thing, however, is how strong their swagger factors are.
Newton
South of the Mason Dixon +10 swagger
Barely literate +5 swagger
Thief +15 swagger
Kicked off of a team of thugs +20 swagger
Big, average speed -3 swagger
Hasn't done jacksquat on the field +15 swagger
Total Swagger: 62ATL College Park Zone 3* +20 swagger Bonus pts

Apparently the reason Clinton-Dix was suspended was because he took a loan from an assistant coach over the summer. If that's the case it shouldn't affect his draft stock much if at all.

Quote:

Deadspin Report: Alabama Assistant Loaned Money To HaHa Clinton-Dix

After yesterday's practice, Nick Saban announced that standout safety Ha'Sean "HaHa" Clinton-Dix was suspended indefinitely. No reason given, just "violation of team rules," as with many of the other nine Bama players suspended over the past eight months. Now we've got a pretty good clue: Alabama has placed an assistant strength coach on administrative leave for providing a "short-term loan" to Clinton-Dix.

That's per the Tuscaloosa News, which also reports that assistant strength and conditioning coach Corey Harris has "a connection to an associate of a sports agent." Clinton-Dix has at least three degrees of separation from the guy he's not supposed to talk to—athletes are getting smarter about this.

According to the News, Harris made a loan under $500 to Clinton-Dix sometime over the summer. Clinton-Dix was able to show bank records backing up his claim that he repaid Harris. Which is still an NCAA violation, and not merely a "violation of team rules." The only reason teams suspend good players is fear of having to forfeit wins.

This is likely more of the same scheme revealed in a report by Yahoo last month, that implicated, among others, former Alabama tackle D.J. Fluker. Agents take care of players in fairly innocuous ways—pay their cell phone bills, offer no-interest loans, chip in for rent for family members—in the hopes of getting the inside edge on signing them when they go pro. Clinton-Dix is projected as a first-round pick in next year's draft.